Checklist for the Start of a Unique Academic Year

Labor Day is almost here, and in many ways it’s similar to New Years Day.  It’s the start of a new year -- not the calendar year, but the academic year.  For students, it’s the perfect time to make mental (or paper) checklists to be sure that they’re on track to meet all of their future goals.

Students should carefully consider their schedule for the new school year, to be sure that the courses they will be taking – whether online or in person -- will allow them to complete all of the courses they want to have under their belt by graduation day.  For example, students with dreams of attending a top college to major in engineering should be sure to get through calculus while in high school.  If they’re not on track to do so, perhaps they should double up on math this year.

Students who recognize that demonstrated leadership is an important quality to college admission officers may want to join a club or organization, of which they are particularly passionate, early in their high school years. Through dedicated involvement as freshmen and sophomores, the opportunity for leadership roles will be great in junior and senior years.

Why a College Education Is Still Worth the Price

The college experience has certainly changed during 2020.  Millions of students nationwide, who had dreamed of fraternities, football games, and freedom from the constraints of living with their parents, may find themselves still at home this fall – just replacing high school studies with college level academics.

Although the on-campus experience has considerably changed, the financial investment is as high as ever.  This leads many to wonder whether college is still worth the cost.  The answer is, “Yes.” The reason is that college graduates, on average, can expect to earn 80% more than those with a high school diploma as their highest degree. 

CNBC researched data from a number of sources, including The Hechinger Report’s Tuition Tracker and PayScale’s College Salary Report.  Utilizing its findings, CNBC recently released its annual ranking, “50 Colleges That Pay Off The Most.” The list was separated into private and public colleges and universities. 

Strategies to Score High on Upcoming PSAT and SAT

Thousands of New Jersey students are finally getting the chance to take the SAT this month, and every month throughout the rest of the year, after the frustration of cancelled exams this past winter and spring.  Thousands of other local students are looking towards the October PSAT to launch them on the college-bound path. What all of these high schoolers need to do is go into the test feeling confident and well-versed on the strategies for success.

First of all, students should be sure to answer each and every question – whether they know the answer or not. They are not penalized for wrong answers so even random guessing will, according to the Laws of Probability, give students credit one out of four times.

The Profound Impact of Covid On The SAT

The summer and fall SAT testing dates have long been extremely popular with high school students. But this year has seen an unprecedented demand from students who were cancelled from, or never got the opportunity to register for, exams in the Spring of 2020 which are typically offered in March, May and June. 

When College Board first opened registration for the August, September and October SAT in late spring, it prioritized students who had registered for the June SAT (which was cancelled nationwide due to the Covid pandemic) and for students who were entering junior or senior year and had not yet taken an SAT.  Shortly thereafter, College Board opened registration to everyone.  The problem is that the high demand for testing opportunities is coupled with a limited seating capacity at most testing sites due to public health restrictions.  So if students cannot get a seat at their own, or a nearby, high school, they may have to take a road trip with their parents to a testing site with availability.

Summer 2020 Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

When students look back on the Summer of 2020, they may be quick to remember the missed opportunities: cancelled summer vacations, terminated part-time jobs, lost opportunities for internships, camps and athletic showcases. But every cloud has a silver lining. Students who want to feel good about themselves when Labor Day rolls around, and those who want to impress college admissions officers, have many opportunities to serve others while adhering to safety protocols.

The Somerset Country Library is offering “Virtual Teen Volunteering” opportunities for those entering grades six through twelve. Students can serve as Book Reviewers, reading select books and writing reviews which are posted to Beanstack as well as to the library’s Online Public Access Catalog.  Students can also serve as Make A Difference Volunteers, performing good deeds in their community such as letter writing, mask making, and outdoor cleanup. Lastly, students can serve as QuaranTEEN Zine Contributors by creating and submitting artistic works in a vast array of media including sculptures, paintings, graphics, prints, photographs, drawings, collages, textiles and more.

An Organized Timeline Eases Student/Parent Stress

As parents and students plan for a new school year, it’s important to realize, even in times of uncertainty, that having a carefully organized timeline can help avoid the stress of an anxiety-filled senior year.

A student’s path to success actually starts during the early part of freshman year. Colleges admire students who show longevity in their activities, so the sooner students identify their clubs, sports, volunteer work, or other activities of passion, the longer they have to build a track record of accomplishments.  Freshman year is the perfect time to take on a new musical instrument or sport that might make a student particularly attractive to colleges.  A demonstrated commitment to volunteer work could earn a 50% to 100% tuition scholarship to The College of New Jersey which seeks “Bonner Community Scholars” and expects 300 volunteer hours each college year.

Parents Role in the College Application Process

Parents walk a fine line when it comes to their children and college applications.  Getting too involved will earn the title of “helicopter parent.”  Leaving everything to the student and hoping for the best – well that’s quite risky! There is a healthy middle ground. The ideal role for parents is to help with research, provide informational opportunities, and handle the financials.

Often students feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start the college process, so parents should help identify colleges that may be an ideal match.  The best way to start is by discussing what major might be of interest. Many students don’t know exactly what career they want to pursue, but they will likely know whether or not they are interested in science, business, engineering, education, or the arts, for example.  This knowledge alone will help to narrow down the research process. Together, parents and students can look up potential majors in College Board’s Book of Majors. Or they can visit www.collegescorecard.ed.gov which will identify every college that offers each major, as well as the average cost of attending the school and the average salary of its graduates.